Improvement in feed-water heaters for locomotives



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISRAEL P. MAGOON, OF ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES A. SHAV, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEED-WATER HEATERS FOR LOCOMOTIVES. y

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,013, dated February 3, 1874; application filed December 18, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ISRAEL P. MAGOON, of St. Johnsbury, in the county of Caledonia, State of Vermont, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Feed-Tater Heaters for Locomotive Steam-Engines, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which my invention appertains to make a-nd use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming apart of this specification, in which- Figure l is a sectional view, showing the manner in which the feed-water pipe is coiled and the arrangement of the exhaust and ldrip pipes. Fig. 2 is-avertical section taken through the stack, smoke-pipe, and exhaust-pipes. Fig. 3 is a sectional view, showing the stays and manner of supporting the pipe in the steamchamber.

Like letters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

My improvement relates to that class of locomotive steam-engines in which the feed-water is heated by means of the exhaust steam before being passed into the boiler; and consists in an insulator or steam-chamber constructed and arranged in a novel manner within the smoke-stack, and in means by which the entire exhaust steam is utilized by passing it through such insulator before it is applied to promote the draft of the engine, all as hereinafter more fully set forth, the object being to simplify the heating appara-tus, and, by rendering the same more effective, increase the saving of fuel.

In Fig. l, A is the smoke-boxof the engine; B B', the exhaust-steam pipes leading from their respective cylinders; D D', the copper feed-water pipe; F, the drip-pipe C, the main exhaust-pipe, and P the smoke-pipe or chimney.

In Fig. 2, the same parts are shown, in section and otherwise, and in addition thereto K is the outer wall of the stack; M, the cap or bonnet; L, the cone or deilector; t', the auxiliary wall; and m and fv the upper and lower heads of the insulator. The water with which the boiler is fedfor supplied is taken, in the usual manner, from the tender or tank, and

forced, by means of the ordinary force-pump, through the pipe D D', one end of said pipe being connected with the pulnp, and the other end with the boiler, in such a manner that the water will be forced upward through the coil K, Fig. 1, and returned through the coil z, which is the method I prefer, although I do not confine myself to the same, as the water may be forced through the coil z rst, and thence through the coil K into the boiler, by changing the ends connecting with the forcepump and check-valve or boiler accordingly. In constructing the heater, the pipe is first bent, as seen at a, Fig. 1, and there coiled in a double helix and placedl around the pipe P, as shown, being supported in that position by the means exhibited in Fig. 3. Around the pipe, when so coiled and arranged, I construct a closed steam-chamber or insulator, as shown in Fig. 2. The inner Wall of this chamber is formed by the smoke or eduction pipe P, and the outer wall by the wall K, the space between these walls being closed in by the heads m fv. Within this chamber, and fastened at the top and bottom to the wall K, there is arranged an auxiliary wall, t', between which and the wall K there is an air-space, into which no steam can pass. This air space or jacket acts as a non-conductor to prevent the condensation of steam within the insulator from cold air surrounding and in contact with the wall K. The convex strainer .fr is to prevent the cinders from the smoke-box A and .chimney P being drawn into the pipe O, and thence upward into the insulator, when a vacuum is created in the cylinders of the engine by shutting olf steam, which shutting off also tends to create a vacuum in the insulator. The pipe F, or drop-pipe,77 is used to convey the water of condensation from the insulator or steamchamber, in which the feed-water pipe D D is coiled.

Fig. Srepresents the method of supporting the feed-pipe in position in the chamber, and in said figure P is the chimney; DD, thefeedwater pipe, and g a truss attachedfby rivets to the pipe P. Through this trussthere is a screw-bolt, c, having a head, d, and provided with a nut, check-nut, and washer. N is a double yoke or clamp, bent to t around the pipe, andheld in place on the truss by said bolt and nuts. lt will'zbe understood that a series of these trusses provided with bolts and nuts, as shown, is attached to the pipe l in a vertical line, and that there is also a corresponding series of yolies or clamps, one clamp encircling each coil ot' pipe within the heater, and firmly holding it in position. When` the bolts which hold the yokes or clamps and sustain the weight ot' pipe are extended through the chimney l, I have. found that the constant jar and vibration ol the engine, when in use, are liable to loosen the bolts in the wall ofthe chimney, and thus produce a leakage of the chamber. This is obviated by means ol.' the trusses, as no bad eiiects will occur should the bolts become loose therein.

I sometilnes construct my apparatus with a small exit-pipe leading from the chamber to the top ot' the stack, and fitted with a stopcock, so that after throwing all. of the exhaust steam into the chamber to heat the iced-water, Aa part of it can be discharged through said exit-pipe directly into the open air, it desired.

In the drawing accompanying this specilication, the feed-water pipes are represented as disconnected from the boiler and pump, it not being deemed necessary in that respect to show anything more than their arran gement and relative position to the other' parts of the apparatus.

From the foregoing, all conversant with such matters will readily understand the nature and operation of my improved heating apparatus. \Vaterbein g drawn from the tank of the tender, and forced bythe ordinary forcepump through the coiled pipe located within the insulator or steam-chamber formed by the walls l 1i and heads m c, will be heated to a high degree of temperature on its way'to the boiler by means of the exhaust steam, which, as the engine works, is thrown into said chamber,through the pipes B' and B alternately, so that whenl said water reaches the boiler comparatively little fuel will be required to coinf'ert it into steam. After the exhaust steam has accomplished its work in heating the feed-water, as aforesaid, it is conveyed by the pipe C, through the strainer m, into the eduction-pipe P, to promote or assist in maintaining the draft of the engine, as shown, all water of condensation being conveyed from the insulator or chamber by means of the pipe F.

The numerous advantages arising from the use ot' hot feed-water in working a locomotive steam-engine are too apparent to every practical engineer to require specifying, especially when such water is obtained or produced by utilizing the heat of steam which has already performed duty as a motive power.

One section only ot' the truss mechanism for supporting the pipe in. the chamber is shown inthe drawing, more being deemed unnecessary. 'I also sometimes connect small pipes, iitted with stop-cocks, to the pipes B B, between. the cylinders and the heating-chamber or insnlator, and extend them to the top of the stack, so that' a. part ofthe exhaust steam can be discharged through them directly into the open air, if desired, but these pipes, and the exit-pipe from the heating-chamber for disehargin g the steam into the open air, are very seldom used, and in` most instances all of the steam is required to be thrown into the chamber to heat the feed-water, and is also all required to promote the draft ofthe chimney, in which case the stop-cocks in said exit-pipe, and in the pipes leading from the pipes l li', as stated, are closed.

Letters atent of the vUnited States, numbered 1.17 ,2508, were granted to me on the 25th day of July, 1871., for an improvement in locomotive steam-engines, in which patent a feed-water-heating apparatus is described, similar in many respects to my present invention, but varying in several essential. features. lu said patent a closed insulator or steam-chamber is shown and described, constructed and arranged around the eductiou or smoke pipe of the stack, and principally supported thereby, but the outer wall of said insulator is not formed by the outer wall ot' the smoke-stack,` and there is no auxiliary wall within the insulator, or so arranged as to produce a closed air-space on the outer side of the insulator, into which no steam or smoke can pass. The main exhaust-pipe described in said patent is provided with a branch pipe, through which. a part only of the exhaust steam is passed into the insulator, being conveyed through another pipe from the insulator into the smoke-box, to assist in maintaining the draft of the engine. A coiled feed-water pipe is arranged within the steanrchamber or insulator, substantially the same as .in my present invention, through which the feedwater passes, and in which it is heated by the steam in said chamber on its way to the boiler. rlhe insulator described in said patented invention being disconnected with the outer wail of the smokestack, and arranged around and mainly supported by the eduction or smoke pipe in the center of the stack, it has been found diliicult in actual use, in some forms of locomotives, to support it in that position with sufcient stability to prevent leale age. rlhe arrangement of the'insulator in the center of the stack also necessitates the use of shorter coils of feed-water pipe, and consequentl y there is less heatingsurface presented to the steam within the chamber than is oba tained by my improved method of constructing the heater, as herein described. Ihave also found that the use of all. the exhaust steam is, in. many instances, desirable, and. the improved means by which the coils of pipe are heated, by taking the entire exhaust steam direetlyfrom the cylinders into the insulating or steam chamber, and afterward using it to produce a draft, possesses many advantages for certain classes of engines, especially the larger, over the method described in lsaid patent.

On the 20th day ot March, 1870, Letters Patent of the United States, numbered 101,28", were also granted to me for an improvement in locomotive steam-en gines, in which last-named chamber, or insulated from the smoke and cind'ers, soonbecomes so clogged or coated with cinders and carbonaceous deposits from the smoke as to prevent the water passing through the pipe from being properly heated, or heated to that degree which it otherwise would be.

I am also aware that a patent was granted to one Ebbert, May 5, 1857 ,numbered 17 ,208, for 4an improvement in feed-water heaters, which patent has expired. But the apparatus of said Ebbert was diti'erent in many respects from mine, and lacked the essential features which make mine successful, and reduce its cost of construction, the netting and bonnet in said Ebberts engine being disconnected from the top of the heating-chamber, or nearly so, and arranged in and supported by the outer or conical casin g of the stack, whereas, in mine, the netting, or bonnet in which the netting is disposed, is mounted uponV or attached directly to the top of the closed steam-chamber, by which the stack is greatly simplied a-nd lightcned, and its cost of manufacture reduced.

I therefore do not herein cla-im anything whatsoever, when in and of itself considered, which is already secured to me by said patent of 1870 or 1871,01l shown and described therein and not so secured. Neither do I herein claim the strainer x, except when used with the pipe C and other parts, arranged as herein described, having made said strainer, in combination with an exhaust-pipe and closed steamchamber, the subject of a claim in another application for Letters Patent, filed December 10, 1873. soever shown or described in the patent of said Ebbert, when in and of itself considered 5 but 1. In the feed-water-heating apparatus of a locomotive stealn-engine, a closed chamber or insulator, the outer walls of which consist of nthe pipe I) and the wall K of the stack, connected by the heads m e, and on which the netting, or bonnet in which the netting is disposed, is mounted, substantially in the manner set forth and described.

2. In combination with the closed chamber, the auxiliary wall t', arranged and used substantially as and for the purpose set forth and specified.

3. In the feed-water-heating apparatus of a locomotive steam-engine, the pipes B Bf, pipe C, and pipe F, in combination with a closed chamber, through which the feed-water pipe passes, the same being arranged and used substantially as shown, so that the whole exhaust steam, unmixed with smoke, can be thrown into said chamber for heating the feed-water prior to being used to promote the draft of the chimney, for the purpose specified.

4. In combination with the closed steamchamber and the pipe C, the pipes B B', the pipe D D', and the pipe F, the strainer w,

5. The combination of the truss g, bolt c, and yoke N with the pipe I), for supporting the feed-water pipe in the closed steam-chamber, substantially as specified.

ySubscribed December 15, 187 3.

ISRAEL 1. MAGOON. Vitnesses OHAs. Ln'rrs,

H. E. METCALF.

Neither do I claim herein anything whatsubstantially as and for the purpose specified. 1 

